State of Nebraska Archives: on Abortion

Bob Krist:
I oppose abortion rights but otherwise would run as Democrat

Krist said he considered running as a Democrat, which potentially would have come with the organizational structure and funding help he will now have to assemble from the ground up.
But he said he could not align himself with the party's support for abortion rights.

Don Bacon:
Life starts at conception

Q: Under what circumstances should abortion be allowed?

Bacon: I believe life starts at conception, and that we're all made in God's image and fearfully and wonderfully made.
I do believe in the principle of "double effect" meaning that we should do everything possible to save the life of the mother and preborn child. Sometimes in an effort to save the mother the preborn child cannot be saved.

Don Bacon:
Support the 5-month abortion ban

I'm 100% pro-life, endorsed by Nebraska Right to Life, and committed to support policies that protect the unborn and build a culture of life across our nation and the world. There are practical policy positions that members of both parties can find
consensus on. I strongly support the 5-month abortion ban and prohibiting abortion when a fetus feels pain. I support the defunding of Planned Parenthood and I strongly oppose our tax dollars going towards abortions or to abortion providers.

Ben Sasse:
Defend the sanctity of life

Life begins at conception and ends at natural death. We must speak for those who cannot speak for themselves and defend the sanctity of life.
Ben believes that we have made tremendous progress in the pro life movement, but that even one abortion is too many.

Bob Kerrey:
Government should stay out of abortion decision

KERREY: I trust women to make that decision. It's a difficult decision. There are a lot better ways to reduce the number of abortions than to regulate women. I think the government should stay out of it.

FISCHER: I am pro-life and I believe in the sanctity of life. I do believe there should be an exception for the life of the mother.

Source: 2012 Nebraska Senate debate excerpts
Sep 28, 2012

Bob Kerrey:
Trust women rather than regulating half the population

On abortion, Kerrey said, "I trust women to make that decision." He said it makes no sense to call for the deregulation of business and the regulation of the half of the population who are women.

"I am pro-life," Fischer declared. She said the only
exception she approves of is the life of the mother. She did not include exceptions for incest or rape. Fischer distanced herself from Missouri's Todd Akin's controversial comments about women's bodies being able to reject pregnancy as a result of rape.

Deb Fischer:
I believe in the sanctity of life

KERREY: I trust women to make that decision. It's a difficult decision. There are a lot better ways to reduce the number of abortions than to regulate women. I think the government should stay out of it.

FISCHER: I am pro-life and I believe in the sanctity of life. I do believe there should be an exception for the life of the mother.

Source: 2012 Nebraska Senate debate excerpts
Sep 28, 2012

Deb Fischer:
Exception for life of mother but not incest nor rape

On abortion, Kerrey said, "I trust women to make that decision."

"I am pro-life," Fischer declared. She said the only exception she approves of is the life of the mother. She did not include exceptions for incest or rape.
Fischer distanced herself from Missouri Senate candidate Todd Akin's controversial comments about women's bodies being able to reject pregnancy as a result of rape.

Deb Fischer:
Look at the record: Opposes abortion

Following a question from a debate panelist asking each candidate to describe what weaknesses of the other two candidates that could be exploited by the Kerrey campaign during the general election campaign,
Fischer declined to name any weaknesses she sees in her opponents and instead touted her own record as a state lawmaker who has supported tax relief and opposed abortion.

Source: AP in The Republic on 2012 Nebraska Senate debates
May 1, 2012

Dave Heineman:
Signs informed consent Legislation

LB 594 and LB 1103 represent important legislation for Nebraska. LB 594 updates Nebraska's informed consent law to help ensure any patient seeking an abortion is doing so voluntarily. It adds provisions to state statute to ensure physicians and medical
providers take into account potential risk factors, as well as any potential for physical or mental complications. The bill also outlines a civil process that will be available to any woman who feels she was not properly informed of those risks.

Source: 2010 Nebraska Gubernatorial press release
Apr 13, 2010

Steven Larrick:
No government control over a woman’s body

Larrick supports the following principles regarding Abortion Issues:

Abortions should always be legal.

Larrick adds, “The government should not have control over a woman’s body.
A woman, with consultation from her medical doctor should be able to make her own decisions. We need to prevent unwanted pregnancies.”

Mike Johanns:
No new embryonic stem cell lines, but existing research ok

Q: Do you support federal funding for research on existing embryonic stem cell lines?

A: Yes.

Q: Do you support federal funding to create lines of stem cells from new embryos?

A: No. While I do not support research on new embryonic stem cell lines,
I support President Bush’s policy to limit research on existing embryonic stem cell lines because it prevents the destruction of new embryos for the purpose of federally funded research.

Mike Johanns:
Partial-birth abortion is a barbaric practice

I ask the Legislature to make a bold commitment to honor the life of the unborn. I, like many in our state, was saddened by the US Supreme Court decision striking down Nebraska’s law banning partial-birth abortion.
My review of this decision tells me that until there is a change on the Court, there is no meaningful hope of ending this barbaric practice.

However, we are not powerless in this area, I ask you to strengthen parental notification by sending legislation introduced by Senator Quandahl to my desk for signature. And in every way possible, I ask you to help me promote adoption as an alternative
to abortion. In addition, I repeat my commitment to sign into law a ban on the use of fetal cells in research that are derived from elective abortion. I also ask you to pass fetal homicide legislation for my signature as other states have done.

Source: 2001 State of the State Address to Nebraska Legislature
Jan 11, 2001

The above quotations are from State of Nebraska Politicians: Archives.